Waiting on agents

[IceRoadDucker]

I'm a regular but frequent name changer, if that matters to anyone.

My first novel went out for query at the end of last month. So far I have a great success rate - 11 rejections, 3 partials and 1 full. The first partial only went out on 5 Feb but the wait is already killing me! I've been taking the rejections really, really well but I know a rejection on a partial or full will sting.

I'm trying to put my energy into writing my third novel - 48k words in - but I can't write continually and whenever I have a spare moment I'm impatiently drumming my fingers on any hard surface I can find.

No reason for posting this thread except that I need to keep my hands from refreshing Gmail every 10 seconds even though it's way too early to expect replies, I have desktop notifications AND it updates itself automatically.

Batman, that's such a nice thing to say , but I'm sure you have plenty of talent...as they say, it's just the opinion of each agent at that time, and a short form rejection is probably more a reflection of an agency's business than of your talent.

Interestingly, my story has quite a mystery theme at its heart, but I don't think that aspect is strong enough to warrant me calling it a pure mystery. Sadly, romantic mystery doesn't seem to be a genre lol!

I think your plot sounds interesting, I'd love to know how you weave aspects of sci-if into a story - I always thought a story was either sci-if or not?

I guess my story just worked out that way! My lead protagonist is a reporter, sent to investigate birth defects etc in a remote US town. It turns out to be a much darker story than anticipated, with the Town Council using the townsfolk as guinea pigs and testing drugs to extend life on them. There's a bit of science-y explanation!

The children born with 'extreme defects' or recorded as stillbirths turned out to be alive and have been kept for testing and abused - they are reunited with their parents at the end. The MC (plus sidekick brother) comes from a background of childhood abuse and the whole thing is an exercise in overcoming her demons, iyswim? The main thrust of the story is the mystery over the missing children, the discovery of the medical testing, the showdown and overcoming of the Council and the aftermath. Does that sound more like sci-fi or a mystery? Also the strong relationship is the brother/sister one and that's funny but quite poignant.

Batman, that sounds intriguing if a little dark for my usual reading taste. I wouldn't really call that sci-if in any way, that's more of a dark mystery/medical/science thing you've got there! :)

Sophie - if only that were a genre!

It is told in a light-hearted way really, with plenty of comic moments - definitely not as dark as it sounds!

Oh this waiting is driving me spare!!
Anyone else find themselves second-guessing things now? I'm wondering if on my next round of submissions I should try swapping my first two chapters....but then the story wouldn't flow in the right way, so I'd have to swap a couple of other things, lol. Aaagh! I think I'll make another copy of my first three chapters and try a bit of rearranging - maybe try putting a different character first.
Do you think they realize what we go through?! I'm sure they do, and I know they're just busy and struggling to find time for their extra work like the slush pile...but oh you just want an answer. I'm beginning to loathe my inbox!
How are you doing? What are you doing?!

SophieCat :)

Hi Sophie - up to eight rejections now and also second-guessing myself! I thought it was in good shape when I sent it off but I'm starting to wonder. I might start contacting some US agents now and look into self publishing as a last resort - though from what I understand that wouldn't make it financially viable 🙄. Very frustrated!

Hi Batman :)
I'm up to four rejections now, all nice, all still blinkin' rejections. This phase is going to drag on for months...which I sort of knew, but is still disappointing!
The US thing is an interesting idea, but I've got no idea how to go about finding agents - is it the same process as here? Do some specialize in UK writers?
Sorry you're no furthe forwards yet. It's anazing how this waiting and wondering makes you rethink everything... Maybe that's why they do it?!
:)

Probably, Sophie! I found most of the US agents on Query Tracker (www.querytracker.net) - are you using this? It is very helpful but adds yet another thing to compulsively check!

I've also sent a query off to Austin Macauley publishers - www.austinmacauley.com (they accept submissions without an agent and offer a variety of structured deals, hybrid and traditional) might be worth a shot! At least they feed back too...

I love the way you describe the submissions process Sophie, right down to the screaming send button! Totally!

It's an incredibly frustrating time, the waiting. The only thing I can advise is to get on with other stuff if you can. I'm no further forward with my YA - clocked up a good amount of (nice) rejections and just one full Ms request. I've put it on one side while working on a couple of other projects, one of which (a non fiction book) is being considered by a publisher right now which is exciting but still excruciatingly frustrating. I do plan another round on the YA submission as I think it's in the best shape it can be, but after that I think it's time to self publish - and finish the trilogy, then move on. It's all experience, I guess - no author seemed to have an easy, quick path to publication.

Tiggy I like your poem :)

Anyone else out there in the waiting time?

I'm excited - just had a full Ms request! Not from an agent this time but a small publisher I loved the look of when I saw them in Writing magazine - an ethical publisher. Love the way they operate and they do sublission windows for unsolicited Ms one month per year so I sent mine in just on a whim as I've out it aside lately - and got the request today.

If nothing else it's always encouraging and you know you must be doing something right when they want to see it all.

A publisher is also wanting to explore further my non fiction project so I'm a little excited to say the least....

Anyone any further on? It's such a roller-coaster!!

Aaand I really should learn to proof read...

That's great, Madhairday, fingers crossed for some good news soon!

I have set myself a target to get the current redraft of my novel finished for Friday (end of term so will have less time over summer!) but not looking hopeful at moment!

Good luck to others still waiting too....

Exciting times Mad! Did they give any indication of how long before you'll hear?

Thanks dontrock and stripy and good to see you! They said I should hear within the month...

Wow that's great news Mad! Well done...
My latest rejection said that a couple of them from the agency had read and enjoyed my chapters, but they felt it wasn't right for them... It wears you down, lol! Nice to hear some good news :)
Best of luck

That's good feedback though Sophie - at least not a form rejection, they've taken time to let you know they enjoyed it. You have to take every bit of encouragement you can get in this game! Have you got more submissions out there you're waiting on?

Hi Mad, yes I've still got 9 I'm waiting on...getting ready to do another round of submissions within the next few weeks. I'm currently doing another small edit of the first three chapters, just tightening it up a bit more than anything.
I was pleased to know that an agent had thought well enough of it to take it to someone else, and that they'd both discussed and enjoyed it...but it's still a no. It does get wearing! But I'm only at the start of what could be a long process. I'm hunkering down for the long haul lol.
Good luck with yours :)

I'm no further forward with fiction as have so much non-fiction work to do - however, an agent did tell me recently that she gets about 500 submissions a month. Last year, she took on 6 clients!

I think that probably made me think whether I should just stick with non-fiction . . .

Just heard from the publisher who liked mine back in March. They're selecting the books that they'll take forwards for release next year, in September. Mine is on the shortlist. More waiting.

That's exciting Tiggy! But the waiting is so frustrating - I'm waiting to hear from this publisher and it's excruciating.

Downhere, wow, it's no wonder hardly anyone lands an agent. It's so incredibly competitive. Kind of makes me feel better about all those rejections.

Beware Macauley publishing, there are posts on another well known writers forum about them. Essentially they are being called vanity publishers on there.

I'm lurking on here as I'm still getting my submission together!

Etiquette question here from a lurker - if a few agents request your full, should you let the ones who haven't responded know? Or is that something you do if (biiiiig if, obviously!) you're offered representation? Thanks!

I'm also a lurker (soon to submit).

Not something I have personal experience but Jessie Burton (The Minaturist) says on her blog that she told the agents she had other requests and it helped her get Juliet Mushens as an agent.

That said, others on here may have a different view.

Yes, do let the other agents.

Nothing peaks interest more than FOMO.

Just be polite. Make it clear you're telling them because you're actually very interested in their agency in particular ( even if you're not too fussed).